11-05-2016, 10:51 AM
(10-26-2016, 08:44 AM)SHRacerX Wrote: I can see why you would think this with their rankings this season and their record, but I honestly believe it comes down to a few key cogs that are causing the entire machine to sputter:This post is right on. I would add that we are getting nothing from TE due to injury and little from Boyd due to inexperience. New role players have not stepped up like we needed: Ced, Boyd, Dansby, Hunt/Clarke, Williams, and Dennard. If just these 6 played as expected, we would be in good shape.
On offense: Ced O and Bodine. No, Zeitler isn't playing top 5 Guard either, but these two are getting a lot of pressure against Andy, and against teams without great pass rushers. The running game is nonexistant (with the lone exception being this past weekend) due in large part to Bodine, but the scheme is just as guilty) I heard a stat that the Bengals rank #30 in the NFL in "sack differential" with a -7. That is really, really bad. Which leads me to the next point.
On defense: Michael Johnson. He looks lazy out there. He doesn't make good reads, he doesn't get good blind-side pressure, despite never getting double teamed thanks to Geno and Dunlap. So many of the big runs this team gives up are cut-backs where he loses containment. Now I see the team dropping him in to coverage where he just loafs along and can't cover anyone.
LB play on the defense has been similarly poor in run recognition and TE/RB coverage. Vinny Rey has been the best in the group and has played very well. I am hoping that Tez will return to form, since this is essentially his final preseason game, due to his suspension.
